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Monday, March 27, 2017

Penny For Your Thoughts - The Story Behind Our Big Move to the Mountains

WAFFLES: So Boss, why do we have a giant penny on our wall? How come we don't have a quarter or at least a twenty? You can't even buy a bucket of chicken for that.

KATIE: Waffles, it's not about what the penny will buy.

WAFFLES: Well that's good because I don't think it would fit through the drive thru window.

KATIE: It's about trust. And love. Do you see the date on that penny? It's right behind your ears.

WAFFLES: You mean the two's and O's?

KATIE: It's 2002, Waffles. That's the year Glogirly became Glogirly. When she and Gloman got married.

Gloman took that photo for her a few years ago. He looked through hundreds of pennies to find the perfect one. That's why the penny was the first photo she hung in our new house. She thinks of Gloman every time she looks at it.

WAFFLES: It's kind of orange. Are you sure she doesn't think of me every time she looks at it?

WAFFLES: Despite what you might think, the world (and it's currency) doesn't revolve around you.

Welcome Home!
Now that our new Colorado house is feeling like home, we thought it was time to answer the question so many of our friends and readers have been asking.

What??? Colorado???

We love Minneapolis. Glogirly has lived there since she was in junior high, she went to college at the University of Minnesota and she met and married the love of her life there. Gloman loves it just as much as she does. He has a very successful business and they have a wonderful son and daughter-in-law who are 100% Katie & Waffles approved.

We also loved our downtown Minneapolis townhouse. If you've been with us for awhile, you probably became accustomed to seeing it in the background of so many of our photos.

Glogirly and Gloman started to think about where they'd like to be someday when they decide to retire. At first they thought they'd never want to leave Minneapolis. They love the city, being able to walk to the grocery store and enjoy the beautiful walking and biking paths along the Mississippi River. For Glogirly, she never really considered moving.

One day after they returned home from visiting with a retirement planner, they started talking about the future. The planner had suggested it's never too early to start browsing different locations and real estate. Gloman had been out to Colorado the previous year on business and had driven through the city of Golden. He remembered looking up at some beautiful homes nestled in the mountains. So he asked, "What about a place in the mountains? Golden, Colorado looks nice." After all, their most favorite vacations have been to the national parks of Colorado, Utah and California.

If you know anything about Glogirly, you know she's always got her laptop at the ready. And she can find just about anything online.

Within about 60 seconds, she found this.

At first it just seemed like a crazy fantasy dream. But she started looking into it deeper. The more she looked, the more she considered, the more she began to think it was a real possibility.

The weekend after Thanksgiving, she and Gloman made a quick trip out to Colorado to see the home. They fell in love... the view nearly took their breath away. So they rolled the dice, placed an offer and got the townhouse on the market the next week. It sold in two days. Next, they found a small apartment in downtown Minneapolis. Since Gloman isn't ready to retire for a few more years, they need a home in both MN and CO.

Over Christmas, they got the apartment set up and shortly after new years, the movers were packing up everything at the townhouse for Colorado.

When Glogirly and Gloman first met, they lived apart for two years. He was in Minnesota and she was in Michigan, so they're no strangers to long-distance love. In fact, it's something they both believe is part of the secret of their success. It forced them to take things slow in the beginning, to really get to know each other. Even when Glogirly moved back to MN, they took their time. Then, five years after they met, they tied the knot.

After much consideration, they decided a long-distance love could work again. Currently, Gloman is based in Minneapolis and Glogirly, Katie & Waffles are all based in Colorado. Gloman flies out to CO about once a month, sometimes for a long weekend, but also for longer vacations and holiday time. Glogirly plans on driving back to MN with Katie & Waffles for longer visits. At the end of April, they're going back for about 2 1/2 weeks. Because she works from wherever her computer is, she can go back whenever she wants to...or whenever she gets really desperate for her hair stylist.

Thank you for telling us how you came to move to Colorado! Even though you owed us followers no explanation why you were living in Minneapolis in one post and living in Colorado the next, I did feel left out. Crazy, right? 😊 However, we love your family and wanted to know what was what! 🐈 🐈 My sister has lived in Estes Park for 40 years. It's one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Congratulations to you all and may you enjoy your beautiful new home for many happy years to come.

What a wonderful story and an exciting change. A home like that has always been my idea of perfection. I'm so happy you made the leap. The penny is beautiful and I'm glad you adapt so well to long distance. I wish you all the best in the new home, adventure and look forward to some gorgeous photos.

WOW! I loved hearing the background of why why why you decided to move to Colorado. How wonderful to be in love with a place. I grew up in Oklahoma and we spent every summer for my first 19 years in Colorado (Estes Park). I hope you enjoy this beautiful place and view. Congrats on your courage and reaching for a dream.

This is such a beautiful post! I love the story of Glogirly and Gloman meeting and falling in love, so of course following along this crazy, twisted tale (or tail!) of life with you both is enjoyable and full of fun surprises! Also, the gang wants to know if Glogirly will be able to pull off fun feats like decorating the house in shorts for Gloman in the new house?? Can't wait to see more of the house, experience the evolution of the seasons through the eyes of Katie and Waffles, and cheer all of you on during this new way of life! In our world, crazy is a GOOD thing. Means love abounds... xoxo Laura and all the Squeedunk Cats

Congratulations on your early "retirement." Your post encourages my mom and dad, who are in the same mode trying to decide where to retire, to start visiting some places soon. It's kind of scary but they might move to a foreign country across the ocean which means I'll be put on an airplane. Not so sure about that. Love Dolly

I am sitting here with tears in my eyes. Tears of HAPPINESS for ALL of you. It started with the penny on the wall....what an incredibly TOUCHING AND LOVING thing that Gloman did, (Hell, I have never met him, and one day I hope that I do) but I LOVE HIM TOO! How could anyone NOT love him? Also, I am a HUGE believer in serendipity and when things are meant to be, you don't have to fight it, you don't have to push, it just HAPPENS. The fact that your townhouse sold in TWO DAYS was a sign that you are MEANT to be in Colorado in that EXQUISITE HOME!! OMG the view! The tranquility! The beauty!! All pluses. I also "get" the long distance thing (which you know, because you and I both had long distance loves. Lenny and I married about 6 years after we met....I moved to Michigan for him which you know and our first year we lived apart)......I totally "get it." (you cracked me up about the hairdresser though). You both are blessed with enormous talent....you deserve all that you have both worked so hard to obtain. I couldn't be happier for you!!!!! Oh and what time is "check-in?" I think you are gonna find me at your front door! MOL! MOL! MOL!!! Waffles cracked me up with thinking of HIM in reference to the color of the penny. Soooooooooo happy for all of you!!!!! xoxoxo You are a brave, adventurous and supportive woman and Gloman is a GEM too! (I'll shut up now) xoxo catchatwithcarenandcody

How wonderful! I admire the fact (and am a little jealous) that you were able to plan your retirement in such a beautiful location. I know the two (four) of you will be very happy. It looks so peaceful!

What a big change! But good luck to you! Colorado is a beautiful state. The woman is lookig around for where they want to retire (wanting to be closer to family) which means the Midwest but they aren't quite ready to jump on anything just yet. The Male doesn't like snow and well, you know the Midwest...

nothing like the mountains in my humble perception.I grew up camping and backpacking in the wilderness of the CA Sierra Nevada. The smell of pines and the sound of the wind whispering through their boughs is a joy for me. We have considered a move to the foothills of the Sierra but we waited too long and now we are a tad too old. Being close to excellent health care is key for us. You will have a great life in the mountains

What a perfect relationship they have!! It must be a bit of culture shock going from the city to high in the mountains though! Wow, is that beautiful!We recently moved to our dream home - nestled in the woods without a neighbor in sight, with lots of land to start a small farm. It's a dream come true, and it's so important to make dreams come true!Jan, Wag n Woof Pets

What a beautiful piece of Colorado you have! Wishing you many adventures and happiness there! Colorado is a wonderful place to retire and has great tax benefits too! :) Yes, we always think of tax. We are CPA Cats in tax season and up to the tips of our tails in taxes. *sigh* Anyway, enjoy! We're very happy for you!

Our mom bean did a practice for her retirement a couple of years ago. She knows where she wants to live now. Glogirly and Gloman are furry fortunate to be able to do both. (She's sure they know that). Have fun in your new place and safe travels in between!

You guys are so cute!! Yours is a true love story. You both deserve all your dreams to come true. You have such a beautiful life. Congratulations and enjoy every moment you have together. Katie and Waffles, you are truly blessed. Lots of love.

Mommy said if she could live anywhere else it would be in England or in Colorado. Except she is most happy far away from the sister who lives in Colorado. It's a long story, but she is happier away from both sisters (one only lives about 60 miles from here). She really misses her brother that died a couple years ago. Now that was a lovely man (even though he only liked dogs!). They talked on the phone A LOT. He lived in Iowa. And his oldest daughter was mommy's 16th birthday present, and the daughter and Mommy are very alike and like each other! My wish for Mommy is for her to find someone like your Gloman. What a daddy for me!